| Presentation
to Miss June Rycroft
On her retirement as Imperial Classical Ballet
Faculty Chairman
Miss
June Rycroft, Chairman of the Imperial Classical Ballet Faculty
retired from the Committee at the end of August. She has been
a most popular Chairman who led with charm, grace, and a great
deal of determination.
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|
June
Rycroft accepting her bronze figure |
At
the beginning of October the Faculty held their two day Autumn
Seminar for the Classical Ballet examiners, and Patricia Prime
was introduced by June Rycroft as their new Chairman. Patricia
Prime responded to June Rycroft’s kind words by saying
that she was greatly honoured to represent the Committee and
that to follow such people as Nancy Robinson, Joyce Percy
and June Rycroft was probably a most unenviable task, but
with the Committee and Examiner’s support she would
strive to maintain the standards of the Faculty.
Patricia
Prime continued by saying that June Rycroft would still examine
for the Society, and would remain as Chairman of the Awards
Committee. On asking the examiners to raise their hands if
June Rycroft had been part of the team who was responsible
for their examiner training - everyone in the room raised
their hands. Patricia Prime responded by saying if that was
the case June Rycroft must continue to undertake
this training as she was obviously indispensable. The day
continued with a syllabus refresher and points arising from
various examinations.
On
the second day the examiners worked on the new Intermediate
Foundation Variation under the direction of its choreographer,
Heather Fish, and went on to the new Grade 5 and 6 Variations
with the choreographers, Francesca Filpi and Vanessa Palmer.
At the lunch break June Rycroft was presented with a bronze
figure - a work by Brenda Naylor of a dancer in a beautiful
arabesque. This was a retirement gift from all the examiners.
There then followed a surprise Buffet Lunch for all, prepared
while the morning ‘Working Session’ was in progress
by Julia Beattie and Margaret Ward.
June
Rycroft had indeed been totally surprised and had earlier
that morning given Margaret Ward money to buy her a sandwich.
The lunch was a happy occasion, and the cake a masterpiece,
with a pair of yellow sandals made out in icing, resplendent
on top. How many members remember that after June Rycroft
injured her foot some years ago, that her teaching shoes were
indeed a pair of bright yellow sandals? Be assured that after
the lunch work continued with guidelines and formats for the
VGE which have a request for Special Arrangements - the category
B examinations being discontinued from August 2004.
A
most happy and memorable weekend.
Patricia
Prime
Photograph: Rusty Goffe
‘To
the Imperial Classical Ballet Faculty Examiners and Committee.
I
was overwhelmed by the extreme generosity of your gift of
the beautiful bronze figure presented to me on the Sunday
3rd October 2004 at the Examiners Meeting. It has pride of
place in my lounge and will be treasured always. Thank you
also for my other gifts from examiners and friends around
the world.
The
surprise lunch in my honour was indeed a great surprise! I
am sure the occasion was enjoyed by all and it was lovely
to see our invited guests.
Thank
you from the bottom of my heart.’
June
Rycroft
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